Protective sock

ABSTRACT

A sock includes a pad with a bulbous region arranged across an upper side of a wearer&#39;s toes. The bulbous region is arranged to reinforce the toe region of a shoe worn atop the sock. In this manner, the bulbous region prevents unsightly wear creases from occurring. Moreover, the sock may be worn with a shoe that exhibits a sunken top toe region or unsightly wear lines to reduce or cause the lines to disappear.

There are no related applications.

The instant application did not receive any federal research and/ordevelopment funding.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Generally, the present invention relates to a protective sock for wearunder a shoe. The protective sock comprises a sock having an open and aclosed end. A reinforced protective region includes a pad that isarranged at a top side of the closed end to reinforce a top side of ashoe worn over the sock to prevent unsightly creases from occurring atthe base of the toe area of the top side of the shoe. The protectivesock also protects the toenails of the athletes from being smashedduring athletic events.

Various protective socks are known. For example. U.S. patent Ser.No.2,443,997 to Town discloses a stocking toe protector that isimpregnated by wax. The protector is a bow-like design to be worn overthe toe portion of the foot, outside the stocking, for protecting thestocking against wear of that portion of the fabric disposed between thenail of the large toe and the inner lining of the shoe which is wherethe stockings usually fail first. Thus, the Town device minimizes wearof the stocking at the toe portion of the stocking.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,615,188 to Hursh et al. discloses a two-ply athleticsock for use in jogging or other athletic activity. The sock has a footportion consisting of a first inner layer or ply disposed inside asecond outer layer or ply. The first ply of the foot portion has aninner surface adapted to contact the skin formed principally of yarnshaving high frictional characteristics, high thermal conductivity, andlow moisture regain. Its opposed surface is formed principally of yarnshaving relatively low frictional characteristics. The second ply has aninner surface which has low frictional characteristics and its outersurface is formed of yarns having relatively high frictionalcharacteristics and high moisture regain (hydrophilic). The lattersurface may also be formed with terry loops to enhance itsshock-absorbing construction as well as to increase its moistureabsorbing capacity.

U.S. patent Ser. No. 5,307,522 to Throneburg et al. discloses asnowboarding sock for use with a snowboarding boot. The sock is adaptedfor wear with a flexible snowboarding boot when snowboarding andcushions selected areas of the leg and foot by providing pads ofdifferent fabric thickness in selected areas of the leg and foot of thewearer. The Throneburg invention relates generally to a sockparticularly adapted for wear with snowboarding boots when snowboardingto facilitate evaporation of moisture from the foot, prevent shifting ofthe foot in the boot and for cushioning selected areas of the leg andfoot by providing pads of different fabric thickness in selected areasof the leg and foot of the wearer. Cushioning pads of medium fabricthickness are provided by forming a first set of terry loops (singleterry loops) in the front half of the leg, the instep of the foot andoptionally in the heel and low splice area extending below the heel.Cushioning pads of heavy fabric thickness are provided by forming bothfirst and second sets of terry loops (double terry loops) in a high padarea in the medial portion of the rear of the leg, in the ball, and inthe toe. Cushioning pad of maximum fabric thickness is provided byforming first, second and third sets of terry loops (triple terry loops)in the high splice area above the heel.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is a sock that keeps the toe area of a shoe fromdepressing or sinking in over time as the shoe is worn. The novel sockalso reduces the lines on the upper front toe area of a shoe alreadydisplaying wear lines. Moreover, the invention relieves pressure on thetop of the toes when sneakers and steel-toed boots are worn. The sockincludes a pocket or an enlarged area in the upper toe region having abulge formed from cotton padding, batting or the like that runs atop thetoe area and from between the base of the toes and the ends of the toes.The bulge has two ends and a central region that is thicker than eitherend. The unique shape of bulge causes it to be properly situated at thebase of the toes to prevent creases from occurring in boots or shoesworn atop the sock.

It is an object of the invention to provide a sock having a uniquelyshaped bulge arranged atop a toe region of the sock. The bulge extendingacross the toes of a foot inserted into the sock and being arranged suchthat the thickest part of the bulge extends across the base socket ofeach toe. In this manner, the bulge prevents unsightly wear lines frombeing created on the top side of the shoe.

It is another object of the invention to provide a sock having a paddedupper region arranged atop the toe area. The padded upper region isbulbous and includes two ends that are thinner in size than the centralarea of the padded region. The central area pushes against the topinside of the toe of a shoe worn over the sock to reinforce the base ofthe toe region to prevent or diminish unsightly wear lines of the shoe.

The above and further objects, details and advantages of the inventionwill become apparent from the following detailed description, when readin conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1A is a perspective view of the sock. FIG. 1B is a side view of thesock.

FIG. 2A shows a shoe worn atop the sock. FIG. 2B illustrates how thebulbous padded region of the sock prevents crease line from occurring.

FIG. 3A shows a prior art shoe having crease lines. FIG. 3B depicts howthe bending of the wearer's toes at the base of the toes causes thecrease lines to occur.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The embodiments of the invention and the various features andadvantageous details thereof are more fully explained with reference tothe non-limiting embodiments and examples that are described and/orillustrated in the accompanying drawings and set forth in the followingdescription. It should be noted that the features illustrated in thedrawings are not necessarily drawn to scale, and the features of oneembodiment may be employed with the other embodiments as the skilledartisan recognizes, even if not explicitly stated herein. Descriptionsof well-known components and techniques may be omitted to avoidobscuring the invention. The examples used herein are intended merely tofacilitate an understanding of ways in which the invention may bepracticed and to further enable those skilled in the art to practice theinvention. Accordingly, the examples and embodiments set forth hereinshould not be construed as limiting the scope of the invention, which isdefined by the appended claims. Moreover, it is noted that likereference numerals represent similar parts throughout the several viewsof the drawings.

FIGS. 1A and 1B show two views of the instant sock 1. The sock 1comprises an open end 3 through which a user's foot is passed. A heel 7is provided for comfort of the wearer. The sock 1 further includes aclosed toe end 5. A bulbous pad 10 is arranged above the toes of thewearer, as more clearly shown in FIGS. 2A-2B.

The bulbous pad 10 includes a central region that is thicker than eitherend arranged at the front and back of the pad 10, with front and backbeing relative to the wearer's foot. When worn, as shown in FIG. 2A, thecentral region is arranged above the base socket of the toes. In thismanner, the bulbous region 10 reinforces the top 51 of shoe 50 toprevent creases 55.

As can be understood by FIGS. 3A and 3B, the prior art shoe 50 becomesworn and develops creases 55 when the wearer flexes the toes at the basesocket as shown in FIG. 3B. The wearing of the sock 10 prevents thecreases 55 from forming on the top side of the shoe 50.

The padding for the sock may comprise cotton batting, piling or othersuch fill material. Otherwise, the padding may be formed by knittingmultiple strands of material together. The sock may be formed frompolypropylene, cotton, silk, or wool. As can be recognized, the sockshown in the drawings is typically referred to as an athletic sock.

While the invention has been described with respect to preferredembodiments, it is intended that all matter contained in the abovedescription or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpretedas illustrative and not in limiting sense. From the above disclosure ofthe general principles of the present invention and the precedingdetailed description, those skilled in the art will readily comprehendthe various modifications to which the present invention is susceptible.Therefore, the scope of the invention should be limited only by thefollowing claims and equivalents thereof.

1. A sock that prevents creases from occurring on a top side of a shoeworn atop the sock, said sock comprising: a first end that is open andthrough which a user's foot is passed; a second end that is closed andinto which toes of the user are inserted; and, a bulbous pad arrangedatop said sock substantially near the second end, said bulbous pad beingarranged atop a base joint of the user's toes and preventing creasesfrom forming in the shoe worn atop the sock.
 2. The sock of claim 1further comprising knit terry materials.
 3. The sock of claim 1 whereinsaid sock is an athletic sock.
 4. The sock of claim 1 wherein said sockis formed from one or more selected from a group consisting ofpolypropylene, cotton, silk, and wool.
 5. A sock that prevents creasesfrom occurring on a top side of a shoe worn atop the sock, said sockcomprising: a first end that is open and through which a user's foot ispassed; a second end that is closed and into which toes of the user areinserted; a heel region arranged between said first and second ends;and, a bulbous pad arranged atop said sock substantially near the secondend, said bulbous pad being arranged atop a base joint of the user'stoes and preventing creases from forming in the shoe worn atop the sock.6. The sock of claim 5 further comprising knit terry materials.
 7. Thesock of claim 5 wherein said sock is an athletic sock.
 8. The sock ofclaim 5 wherein said sock is formed from one or more selected from agroup consisting of polypropylene, cotton, silk, and wool.
 9. A sockthat prevents creases from occurring on a top side of a shoe worn atopthe sock, said sock comprising: a first end that is open and throughwhich a user's foot is passed; a second end that is closed and intowhich toes of the user are inserted; and, a bulbous pad arranged atopsaid sock substantially near the second end, said bulbous pad beingarranged atop a base joint of the user's toes and preventing creasesfrom forming in the shoe worn atop the sock, wherein said sock is formedfrom one or more selected from a group consisting of polypropylene,cotton, silk, and wool.
 10. The sock of claim 9 further comprising knitterry materials.
 11. The sock of claim 9 wherein said sock is anathletic sock.